Womble Carlyle Selects First To File’s Electronic File Room (EFR) Intellectual Property Data Management System for Central

August 10, 2011

Tools

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- First To File® announced today that prominent law firm Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC has selected its Electronic File Room™ (EFR™) web-based intellectual property management system to achieve a more paperless process, ensure integrity of its patent files, alleviate email overload, and facilitate collaboration between lawyers in different offices.

Developed to reduce the overwhelming IP paper backlog and email volume at corporations and law firms, EFR is a web-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) that organizes documents, correspondence and workflow for patent prosecution. EFR’s digital tri-fold view simulates the format of US patent case file folders: Correspondence/File History/Documents which makes the system easier to use and reduces adoption risk.

Butch Carroll, attorney at Womble Carlyle, remarks, “In a multi-office environment, paper files are not a viable option because they are unreliable, inefficient and unsustainable. Also, email is not an efficient way of communicating and managing workflow. To address these issues, we chose First To File’s Electronic File Room because it is specifically configured for our needs. EFR will ensure file integrity, build efficiency, and streamline collaboration between offices and it will dramatically cut down on our email usage. This system will enable us to do our work faster and reduce costs.”

First To File CEO James P. Bergeron notes, “Historically, the patent process has been extremely paper-intensive and plagued by inefficiency. IP attorneys and paralegals located in separate offices often engage unknowingly in duplicate work. Paper documents must be FedExed to colleagues, which can be expensive and slow, and can sometimes lead to damage or loss of key documents. EFR solves these problems, creating a centralized online interface where all interested parties can access documents, track correspondence and prior art, and collaborate on matters seamlessly and efficiently. We are extremely pleased that Womble Carlyle has selected EFR to streamline and modernize its IP practice.”

About First To File and Electronic File Room (EFR)

Founded in 2006, First To File (FTF) is a software company based in San Mateo, California specializing in intellectual property information management technology. First To File’s products automate the storage, management and analysis of legal documents worldwide, enabling law firms and corporate legal professionals to reduce risk and work more effectively.

FTF’s Electronic File Room (EFR) is a web-based patent document management and prosecution automation solution for IP corporate legal and law firms of all sizes. Used by Fortune 500 companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Unilever as well as top IP law firms, EFR reduces reliance on paper and transforms the patent prosecution process, increasing overall visibility, efficiency, and patent quality while significantly reducing costs. For more information, visit www.firsttofile.com or follow us on Twitter @FirstToFile or Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101788879272.

About Womble Carlyle

Womble Carlyle is a full-service business law firm with a focus on innovative solutions to client needs. The firm supports the Association of Corporate Counsel in the ACC Value Challenge, which seeks to better align legal services with the needs of corporate clients.

The firm is located in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, and serves clients nationally and globally, with more than 550 attorneys in twelve offices: Atlanta; Charleston and Greenville, S.C.; Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Research Triangle Park, and Winston-Salem, N.C.; Washington, D.C.; Tysons Corner, Va.; Baltimore; and Wilmington, Del.

In the community, the firm is the first law firm to receive the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Corporate Leadership Award as well as the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Freedom Award. For more information, visit www.womblecarlyle.com.